Glossary

Advanced Digital Recording, which uses magnetic tape data storage (packed in one cartridge) to store data from computer by digital drive. ADR drives read and write eight tracks of data simultaneously on one medium. This technology is usually used for fast data backup of a large quantity of data.

Advanced Technology Attachment, which is used to connect data storage devices with computer data bus (IDE Interface for IBM-PC/AT & compatible computers).

Basic Input Output System. Basic software that runs on computers and certain add-on cards (controllers, network cards, etc.).

Compact Disc, optical medium used to store any type of data. Special laser diode is used to read data from it.

Read Only Memory. Optical medium from which data can be just read. Sometimes it is used as acronym for Compact Disc Reader Drive.

CompactFlash Memory Card used in Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, PDA devices, Cell Phones.

Digital Archive Tape

DataBase Management System, which is used to manage files and data in some database systems (Oracle, MS Access, MS SQL, MySQL, InterBase, etc.).

Type of mass data storage medium in form of a cartridge (half-inch type) that is used for data backup.

Digital Versatile Disc Plus Recordable (type of optical medium)

Digital Versatile Disc – Recordable (type of optical medium)

Digital Versatile Disc Rewritable (type of optical medium)

this acronym can have several meanings: Enhanced Serial Data Interface (serial data port type used by computers to communicate with peripherals), Enhanced Small-Device Interface, Enhanced System Device Interface (common but incorrect).

3rd Extended File system used by Unix/Linux compatible operating systems.

12bit File Allocation Table (File Access Table is also used, but incorrect) by Microsoft.

32bit File Allocation Table (File Access Table is also used, but incorrect) by Microsoft.

Floppy Disk Drive is device used to read/write Floppy Discs.

File system, which is used to represent data in a specific form on any type of data storage medium.

Hard disk drive is a device used to store data. It is a magnetic device with embedded discs in its case. Data can be read/written on this device.

This acronym can have several: Integrated Data Environment, Integrated Device Electronics, Integrated Drive Electronics (related to hard disk drives), Intelligent Drive Electronics (related to hard disk drives, but less common)

KiloByte is measurement unit for data volume. 1KB = 1024B

MegaByte is measurement unit for data volume. 1MB = 1024KB

This acronym can have several: Master File Maintenance, Microfilm Module (which is used as data storage).

MultiMedia Card is Memory Card used in Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, PDA devices, Cell Phones.

Moving Picture Experts Group Layer – 3 Audio (type of audio file format/file format characteristic extension).

This acronym can have few meanings: Network Attached Storage (network oriented storage medium), Network Accessible Storage, Network Attached Servers, NetWare Access Services (for access to storage medium)

Data storage system that is not build on a RAID platform.

This acronym can have several meanings: Network Service Daemon (on Unix/Linux systems), Network Systems Design.

Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (hard disk interface). This is one version of the ATA standard.

Personal Digital Assistant, small computer that you can hold in one hand and take with you. Usually it uses some type of memory card; it rarely it uses hard disk drive.

Quarter Inch Cartridge : one package type of data storage tape.

Remote Interface Module (used for connections between devices).

Storage Area Network

This acronym can have few meanings: Small Computer Serial Interface, Small Computer System Interface. Standard for connecting devices to data bus of computer. Found primarily in servers.

Type of mass data storage tape medium packed in a cartridge that is used for data backup. This medium type has the ability to read and write data at high speeds (with or without compression).

This acronym can have several meanings: Tape Archive, Tape Archiver.

Type of mass data storage tape medium packed in a cartridge that is used for data backup.

One type of data storage medium, usually it is known as: Write-Once Read-Many, Write Only-Read Many (less common but can be found).

Technology, which uses magnetic tape data storage (packed in one cartridge) to store data from computer by digital drive. AIT tapes have a memory chip embedded in the cartridge to store a table of contents and file location information. This technology is usually used for fast data backup of large quantities of data. Data can be saved in a normal or compressed state.

Byte is measurement unit for data volume. 1B = 8bit

Bits Per Inch, unit that is used for measuring capacity of medium.

Compact Disc Recordable, optical medium used to store any type of data. Data can be saved (burned) with special laser beam only once, but data can be read many times from it. It is also known as CD-ROM (Compact Disk : Read Only Memory).

Compact Disc ReWritable, optical medium used to store any type of data. Data can be saved (burned) with special laser beam many times. Data can be read many times from it.

Copy In and Out, this is a Unix/Linux utility for working with files.

Database, sometimes this name is used instead of DBMS

Type of high capacity data storage tape medium packed in a cartridge that is used for data backup.

Digital Versatile Disc (formerly Digital Video Disc) or Drive (type of optical medium)

Digital Versatile Disc ReWritable, competing standard to DVD-RAM & DVD-RW (type of optical medium).

Digital Versatile Disc : Random Access Memory (type of optical medium)

Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics, Enhanced IDE technology used by hard disk drives to operate and communicate with the data bus in a computer.

2nd Extended File system used by Unix/Linux compatible operating systems.

16bit File Allocation Table (File Access Table is also used, but incorrect) by Microsoft.

Floppy Disc (or Floppy Diskette) is a magnetic medium used to store data. Data can be read/written many times on it.

Fast peripheral device interface used by computers and other newer devices for communication where a large quantity of data is transferred (digital camcoders, audio/video editing).

GigaByte is measurement unit for data volume. 1GB = 1024MB

High Performance File system

Just a Bunch Of Disks/Drives (this type of system is distinct from RAID).

Type of mass data storage medium packed in a cartridge that is used for data backup.

Micro Drive is small hard disk drive used in newer USB Memory devices, MP3 players and PDA.

Type of mass data storage tape medium packed in a cartridge that is used for data backup. This medium type can be read and written to at high speeds (with or without compression).

Magneto Optical, data storage made by a combination of magnetic and optical technologies.

MemoryStick is Memory Card used in Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, PDA devices, Cell Phones.

Network File System, which is used on network oriented platforms.

Network Series

New Technology File system that can be found on Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP.

Personal Computer

Pocket Personal Computer, one type of PDA device.

Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (multiple disks configured together which act as a larger volume. RAID usually includes a level of fault tolerance so that one member of the RAID set can fail without any data loss. However, RAID-0 configurations require that all members be functional or the data will not be accessible).

ReWritable is the capability of data storage medium to be written to more than one time.

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (hard disk interface). This is one version of ATA standard.

SecureDigital Card is a Memory Card used in Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, PDA devices, and Cell Phones.

Structured Query Language (database query language used in communication with DBMS).

Universal Serial Bus (peripheral device interface used by computers and other newer devices)

Microsoft Windows Compact Edition that is used as the operating system in many PDAs and similar devices.

xD Memory Card is usually used in Digital Cameras.